CrypWorkz
User Research, User Interface and Design Systems
This project utilizes Web3 technology and Ethereum-based crypto wallets to develop a Decentralized Freelance Marketplace, enabling secure, transparent transactions and smart contract-driven payments.
Client
Academic Project
Industry
Cryptocurrency
Web3
Duration
April 2024
4 Months
The Team
3 UX Designer,
2 UI Designer
My Role
Conducting Interviews, Competitive Analysis, and Affinity Mapping, Conceptualization and Visual Design.
Tools Used
// Index
The Problem.
Freelancers and clients face a lack of secure, efficient, and transparent platforms that protect privacy, reduce fees, and streamline communication and payments.
// USER's PERCEPTIONS OF NETWORKING
“The platform takes too much of a cut from my earnings, leaving me with less than expected.”
Freelancer, Digital Marketing Specialist - HubSpot
"On traditional platforms, sharing personal details feels risky, and I’m always worried about my information being exposed or misused."
Client, Tech Startup Founder
"The constant worry about my identity being exposed makes me hesitant to even use some platforms."
Freelancer, Graphic Designer - Fiverr
"Flexible payment structures, like milestone-based payments, are crucial for me to manage my projects effectively."
Freelancer, Content Writer - Upwork
// WHAT ARE THE KEY PAIN-POINTS?
Pain-point #1
Lack of Privacy & Identity Exposure
Freelancers and clients are reluctant to share personal information due to concerns over privacy, fearing data breaches and identity exposure.
Pain-point #2
Seamless Job Matching & Payments
Freelancers need a streamlined system that matches them with relevant jobs, ensures timely payments, and minimizes platform commissions, with flexible payment structures.
Pain-point #3
Job Creation and Data Transfer
Clients want an easy process to streamline job creation and data transfer, without the complexities of dealing with multiple channels and platforms.
// PAIN-POINT #1
Lack of Privacy & Identity Exposure
// How DID I Address this?
We implemented a decentralized profile system, allowing freelancers and clients to use blockchain-based IDs instead of personal information. Additionally, crypto-based payments ensure that users can transact anonymously, further protecting their privacy while maintaining trust in the platform.
// THE IMPACT
// PAIN-POINT #2
Seamless Job Matching and Payments
// How DID I Address this?
We implemented skill-based job matching, ensuring freelancers receive opportunities aligned with their expertise, allowing them to send proposals and negotiate terms seamlessly. The project dashboard streamlines workflow with task tracking, messaging, file sharing, and automated payments via smart contracts.
// THE IMPACT
// PAIN-POINT #3
Streamlining Job Creation & Data Transfer
// How DID I Address this?
Using AI, we’ve streamlined the job creation process by automatically generating job titles, descriptions, and smart contract suggestions, while also recommending freelancers who are the best fit for the role. The project dashboard allows clients to easily view proposals, assign freelancers, track project progress, and manage approvals, all in one place.
// THE IMPACT
But wait… how did we get here?
// Choosing the right framework
// MY APPROACH
// INTERVIEWS
I conducted 26 interviews in total, including 18 with freelancers and 8 with clients, to gather a range of insights, 9 of which I personally led.
// RECURRING THEMES FROM OUR INTERVIEWS
// SURVEYS
To validate key insights from our interviews, we distributed surveys and collected 43 responses by May 12, 2024. I was responsible for designing the survey, crafting questions, and analyzing the data to uncover valuable insights.
// DESK RESEARCH
I reviewed 5 research papers on decentralized freelancing, blockchain technology, and trust-based systems to ensure Crypworkz is built on solid, research-backed principles.
"Blockchain technology offers the potential to create a more transparent, trustworthy, and efficient freelancing ecosystem by removing intermediaries and enabling secure transactions."
Published Online: Sep 09, 2019
What is the relevance?
This aligns with our platform's goal of leveraging blockchain to enhance trust and transparency, while eliminating the need for intermediaries, ensuring secure transactions between freelancers and clients.
"The rise of platform-based freelancing has led to concerns about the diminishing value of work and fulfillment among freelancers, as they navigate the pressures of rapid gig culture."
Published Online: Aug 19, 2019
What is the relevance?
Our platform addresses these concerns by providing a more personalized and meaningful approach to freelancing, using a decentralized system where freelancers are empowered with more control over their work and privacy.
"Smart contracts and blockchain provide the necessary tools to eliminate the inconsistencies and inefficiencies of traditional freelancing platforms, ensuring a more secure and reliable freelancing experience."
Freelancing blockchain: A practical case-study on trust-driven applications development.
Published Online: Sep, 2021
What is the relevance?
We incorporate smart contracts into our platform, allowing freelancers and clients to establish secure, trust-driven work agreements without third-party interference, addressing common issues such as late payments and poor communication.
"Blockchain's decentralized nature allows for instant and secure freelance payments, overcoming the traditional platform's reliance on slow and costly intermediaries."
Published Online: Nov 15, 2020
What is the relevance?
This paper supports our use of blockchain technology for instant, secure payments, eliminating platform fees and intermediaries, aligning with our vision of improving payment efficiency and security for freelancers and clients.
// Competitive Analysis
We conducted a competitive analysis to identify gaps in existing mentorship and event-based networking platforms, ensuring Netwise offers unique, research-backed solutions
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// Data Scrapping
We conducted data scraping from Trustpilot after our competitive analysis to gather real, unfiltered user feedback on the top freelancing platforms, enabling us to understand customer satisfaction levels, identify recurring pain points, and pinpoint areas where Crypworkz could provide unique value.
// Building a persona
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Meet Ethan
He is a 32-year-old freelance web developer with 8 years of experience, working mainly with small businesses and startups. He values privacy, security, and efficiency, seeking platforms that simplify job matching, payment processes, and offer transparency, without high fees or unnecessary administrative tasks.
// HOW DOES ETHAN FIND WORK CURRENTLY?
// WHAT ARE ETHAN's NEEDS?
1. Privacy & Security
Must have:
A platform that lets him work without sharing personal information.
Must Avoid:
Publicly visible profiles or data-sharing with third parties.
2. Fair & Transparent Payments
Must have:
A secure payment system with escrow, milestone payments, and low fees.
Must Avoid:
High commissions, delayed payments, or hidden transaction fees.
3. Efficient Job Matching & Workflow
Must have:
A system that recommends relevant jobs based on his skills and experience.
Must Avoid:
Irrelevant job listings, manual filtering, and inefficient project tracking.
The above details are based on user research.
// STORYBOARDING
After creating the persona, I developed a storyboard to visually map Ethan's journey, highlight pain points, and ensure the design flow met his unique needs.
// CRAZY8
After storyboarding, we used Crazy 8s to rapidly brainstorm multiple design ideas, Below are ideas from Crazy 8s, and we chose the best solutions to support Ethan’s journey.
Idea 1
Privacy-Focused Profile Creation
Create anonymous blockchain-based profiles with pseudonyms and customizable avatars to protect user identity and enhance privacy.
Idea 2
Smart Contract-Driven Payments
Implement smart contracts for secure, transparent, and automated payments, ensuring freelancers are paid on time without third-party interference.
Idea 3
Skill-Based Job Matching
Develop an AI-driven system that matches freelancers to relevant jobs based on their skills, ensuring a higher probability of successful job fits.
// EMPATHY Mapping
We conducted empathy mapping for Ethan after Crazy 8 to gain deeper insights into his emotional needs, challenges, and motivations, ensuring our design solutions aligned with his expectations.
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// User flows
We created user flows after empathy mapping to visually outline Ethan's journey.
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// INFORMATION architecture
We developed information architecture after user flows to organize and structure the platform’s content and features logically, ensuring easy navigation and a user-friendly experience for Ethan.
From Data to Design : Let’s Create!
// MID FIDELITY DESIGN
We moved to mid-fidelity designs next to refine the layout and user flow, adding more detail to test usability and gather more specific feedback while still allowing for flexibility in adjustments.
Does it work? Let’s Find Out!
// USABILITY TESTING
We conducted 10 A/B testing and think-aloud sessions to identify usability issues,and validate design choices, ensuring the interface met usability standards before progressing to high-fidelity designs.
// A/B Testing
// HEURISTICS EVALUATION
// KEY FINDINGS
Overwhelming Posting Options
Users felt overwhelmed by the number of steps and options when posting a job, leading to confusion and delays. A/B testing revealed that simplifying the process to a one-click job posting or talent search improved efficiency and user satisfaction.
Disruptive Wallet Connection
The pop-up wallet connection disrupted the workflow, making it feel like an unnecessary interruption. A/B testing showed that switching to a dropdown view provided a smoother experience, allowing users to connect their wallets without breaking their task flow.
Missed Project Budget Block
Users had difficulty locating the budget section for projects, which led to confusion and frustration when assessing job opportunities. Heuristic evaluation revealed that improving the visibility and positioning of the budget block enhanced user experience and helped users make quicker, more informed decisions.
Inconsistent Navigation Flow
Users struggled with inconsistent navigation across different sections of the platform, leading to a lack of clarity in how to access specific features. Heuristic evaluation pointed out the need for a more cohesive and standardized navigation structure to improve usability and guide users through the platform more smoothly.
// THE DESIGN GUIDE
// NEXT STEPS
What I’d Tackle with More Time
Designed for Everyone.
// USER'S THOUGHTS ABOUT NETWISE
My Learnings.
The Importance of Privacy-First Design
Working on Crypworkz reinforced how crucial privacy is in freelancing platforms. Implementing blockchain-based IDs and avatar profiles showed me that users value anonymity, and balancing security with ease of use is key to adoption.
Continuous Iteration Leads to Better User Experience
From initial research to final testing, I realized that refining features based on real user feedback is essential. The process taught me that no design is perfect on the first try, and improvements should be data-driven and iterative.
Bridging the Trust Gap in Freelancing
Freelancers and clients often struggle with trust due to payment delays and unreliable hires. By integrating smart contracts and escrow payments, I saw how technology can build confidence and improve transparency in transactions.
AI Can Streamline Complex Processes
Designing AI-driven job posting and freelancer recommendations highlighted the power of automation in reducing friction. I learned that AI isn’t just a convenience but a necessity in making freelancing platforms more efficient for both clients and freelancers.
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User Research & User Interface // APR 2024
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